¡Bienvenidos a México!

December 18, 2012

I would like to welcome you all to the Mexican edition of BIG THINGS…COSAS GRANDES! I arrived this week in Mexico City and am very excited to be back in this chaotic place. Some of you may have been wondering what the hell is going on over here: sporadic postings, flash sales, etc. So here’s a recap of the past 6 months and a quick intro to what’s next for BIG THINGS!

Over the summer I spent 3 magical weeks in Mexico and upon returning to Oakland, decided that it was time for me to make some life changes. This year has been incredibly successful for me- lots of traveling, pop-ups, press, new friends, etc.- all of which I am eternally grateful for! But I’m also going to be candid and say that it has also been one of the hardest years of my life.

Right before I left for Mexico I found out that the boutique that I had been working at for four years, Metier, would be closing it’s doors after a 21 year run. It was a fashion institution in San Francisco and we were a deeply-bonded group of ladies- they were my family! I was on vacation for most of the process and watched my best friends close a space that had been my second home for many years.

After an endlessly inspirational trip to Mexico, I headed to Chicago to visit my family. My 92-year-old grandmother was frailer than ever; she could barely speak, only mouthed “I love you” to me with her sweet smile, but couldn’t do much else. A week after I came back to Oakland, she passed away. We were very close and she was always my role model. It was devastating to watch her deteriorate over so many years, but I am lucky to have seen her right at the end.

Earlier in the year, Nico, my best friend and boyfriend for 5+ years, and I also decided to call it off. No hard feelings whatsoever, I still love him and we are still family. But losing that kind of relationship puts a dent in your heart, for sure.

This isn’t supposed to be a sob story or some kind of sentimental BS, this is the honest-to-gawd truth. THIS IS LIFE, PEOPLE! Businesses close, love is lost, people die and things change. And all of these changes bring about major decisions- do I get a new job? Do I do BT full time? Do I go back to school? And my decision was a combination of all of the above + FUCK IT, I’M MOVING TO MEXICO.

So, here I am, writing in my friend Mariana’s extra room in Mexico City, my belongings sold or gifted, my friends and family back in the states. I’m heading to Oaxaca on Thursday for Spanish classes, ready to explore and expand and build on everything that has brought me to where I am now.

As for BIG THINGS, this has been a huge part of my life and I have no intention of letting it go. But sometimes the internet isn’t necessarily the place to be living your life. Everything I do here has always been about learning and sharing, so I will of course continue to share my discoveries with you. But I am also looking forward to a new chapter for myself involving learning, languages and working more with kids and education.

SO WITH ALL OF THAT SAID (phew!), I invite you all to get the hell away from your computer, your phone, Instagram, Facebook, or whatever other bullshit devices we use to outsource our consciousness, and just spend time with your family, your friends, your cities, your countrysides and everything new and exciting. Pick up a book, ask some old people some questions, fall down and get the fuck back up again!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you all and here’s to a brilliant, fun, healthy & revolutionary NEW YEAR in 2013!

5 Responses to ¡Bienvenidos a México!

That was so beautifully put, God I love you!! You are an incredible girl. I have never met anyone like you, I can’t wait to hear the amazing stories of your adventures. And just so you know….you leaving has put a little dent in MY heart.

Great post Rebecca….so heartfelt and straight to the core! I’m so sorry I missed saying goodbye to you before you left, but I know I’ll see you sometime soon! You’re on an amazing adventure and it can really pay to fall down and get back up again.

Ok, I have a book next to me asking to be opened.
Con mucho carino amiga y buenos viajes!
-patty

instructions for Life by The Dalai Lama
-Take into ccount that great love & great achievements involve great risk.
- Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values
-Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older & think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
-Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
- Be gentle with the earth.
-Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love to each other exceeds your need for each other.
-Judge your success by what you had to ogive up in order to get it.
- If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
-If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
Keep pushing on… you’re a champ!
love,
mama